Review of Dancer in the Dark (2000) by Pedro V — 20 Jan 2013

Rating: 4 stars.

Arthouse Rating: 4 stars+.

Dancer In The Dark, is Lars Von Triers most accomplished work. It follows Selma a near blind immigrant who doesn't live on luxuries. Selma in theory is a great human being, she has a strong faith in humanity, trust worthy, and a joyful person. These just aren't the skills needed to survive though, because with these qualities she's naive, lives in a dream, and has no sense of priorities. This makes it a difficult watch, she gets the audience frustrated with her. For example dreaming that a court room turns into a musical when being tried for murder. She's to imaginative and has no idea how reality works, keeping a secret for a now dead man who betrayed is something no one would do. This is what made the film so devastating.

Everything came back during the trial scene, everything that was done and said had a meaning. Some scenes of dialouge might seem pointless, but it all did come back. I've never seen every single scene incorporated to have an impact. At 140 plus minutes, there was nothing that was worthless to the story. The musical scenes were all dreams, and enjoyable since they were well put together and spread out. Bjorks did not make my ears bleed, and she did give an unfeigned performance.

Von Trier created an absolutely brilliant picture, the best film of 2000. It felt like absolute reality, with a cheesy but fitting score and great camera angles. Like the scene where the camera was half in a lake and half above viewing a distant Selma, was one of the best shots I've ever beheld. All around a brilliant film and I certainly imagine myself watching it again.